Hlo darlings

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When a person fails to draw a conclusion out of the events occurring in his or her life, he or she seeks to find them through others' opinions about the same events. Anika was no exception.

Khanna could see how Anika was shifting in her seat uncomfortably but still staring at him like a lost kitten. The girl was so in love, yet she was shielding her feelings with the rough exterior of hatred. Someone will have to break that exterior.

His boss was number one in the list of Eligible bachelors of India, number one in the list of top businessmen of India, number one even in anger issues but he was zero in expressing his feelings. So someone will have to do it for him. Someone will have to tell his Anika mam what his sir holds for her in his heart.

No, he wasn't going to tell her that Shivaay Singh Oberoi is in love with her, that's entirely his call to take. He will have to express and she will have to understand and reciprocate. His task was to let her know that there's nothing to be scared of. He needs to tell her that his Shivaay sir has changed, for good, and that he cares for her. Basically, it was a now or never situation.

"It was your safety that was his priority, that's why he was holding himself for so long." Khanna spoke having enough of his own thoughts.

"You hate Shivaay Singh Oberoi, right ?" Hearing his question Anika opened her mouth but closed it again but that clearly meant no, she doesn't.

"The world fears him, Mam. But the truth is, no one actually knows him. No one knows that he used to be a child who had no carefree childhood. You didn't have your parents with you so you knew that you have only yourself to help you. But having parents but yet not having their support their time is more painful. Seeing their fights is more painful, seeing your siblings cry and your mother being beaten by your father is more painful, seeing your father bringing mistresses in the house is more painful, seeing people looking at you with doubtful eyes that may be you are also like your father is more painful." Khanna voiced out his thoughts and spoke the last few lines deliberately and when he looked at Anika, he could see that he received the desired reaction from her.

She was staring at her hands in her lap and he could bet that her eyes were glossy due to unshed tears. He was feeling bad for putting his little sister in this painful situation but it was needed. He was even scared of his boss' reaction if and when he would get to know that he put her in this situation and made her feel guilty, and made her cry.

But she shouldn't have compared Shivaay to that disgusting man. His Shivaay sir was an open, limitless sky and that man was just useless piece of shit. Infact he himself would prefer shit if he had to choose between the two.

Anika couldn't believe she was being that cruel to the man who was so important to her. He had a place in her heart, for sure but she wasn't ready to give it a name, yet.

"No one ever admitted but everyone always knew the dirty reality of Tej Singh Oberoi. Oberoi brothers, especially Shivaay sir was always looked down upon by people in such matters. People respect him on his face and talk rubbish behind his back, calling him names. But he never gave a damn. Not that it might not have hurt him, but because he couldn't afford to let these trivialities take a toll on him." Khanna stopped for a few minutes as he felt his throat blocked due to a lump when he recalled a few painful memories of the past.

He still remembers the night when had heard someone calling his Shivaay sir a womaniser when he was just helping a drunk girl to reach her house safely. He recalled how his Shivaay sir's business rivals tried to snatch the deals from him by defaming Shivaay sir in the investors' eyes. However, it was fortunate that the investor knew the worth of a real diamond so he didn't fall for stones.

"When there are burdens on your shoulders, you have to become as hard as a rock. He had to become heartless so that his family could lean on his shoulders and cry." Khanna finally broke the silence that fell between them.

"He was this strong man since forever. Until you came. No one knows what is it that he knows about you that no one else does that he lo... likes you so much. I'm not saying you're not good, infact you're the sweetest person I've ever seen. But the way he looks at you, it's like, you're the only one in this world." Khanna's words created havoc within her but she interlinked the fingers of both of her hands to control herself.

"It was not entirely his fault that he misunderstood you. He was misled. He loves his siblings like anyone would love his own kids and seeing his little princess whom he had brought up by telling fairytales laying on hospital bed, he lost his senses and patience. Anyone who loved his sister would've done the same thing he did. To ruin the one who was responsible for all of this." Khanna closed his eyes in guilt. Although it wasn't his fault but, only if he was there !

"I curse myself for that time. Had I been there I wouldn't have let anyone play with his mind. At that time he knew nothing about you so he couldn't trust you, could he ? I'm not justifying his acts though, he could have investigated better and by himself." Khanna's words were absolutely correct. It wasn't entirely Shivaay's fault. It was Tej Singh Oberoi and Rohit who plotted against her and more than that, against him.

"In a way he saved you too, Mam. Have you ever thought about the other side of the story ? What would've happened to you if Shivaay sir hadn't taken you to Oberoi Mansion ? What would've been your condition if you were with Tej Singh Oberoi ?" At that point of time Anika shuddered in fear.

Khanna ji was right. Shivaay tortured her, insulted her, called her names, but he didn't atleast rape or molest her, and she trusts him that he would've never done that, not to her nor to anyone else. She feared him, true, but she always felt secure when he was with her that atleast he won't take advantage of her. Infact he protected her always.

"There are so many things that you don't know. You don't know how much he cried when he got to know Rohit's intentions. I wouldn't say that he never cried, that's not practically possible for a human being. But the way he cried for you was... it's... it's just inexplicable. He did everything he could to rectify his mistakes." Khanna stopped as another guard brought their coffee and sandwiches.

"When Tej killed Rohit.." Khanna stopped as he heard Anika's gasp loudly at the revelation of Rohit being dead, but Khanna chose not to explain it as he didn't want to scare her.

"Shivaay sir was looking at his dead body as if he would get him back to life and kill him again. When he got to know about your grandmother's death, he was so worried for you. When you were crying in the cremation ground, it was him who could make you calm. You were not even aware of his presence but you calmed down and slept so peacefully. Do you know why ?" Khanna stopped to let her answer him and continued when she didn't speak.

"Because you felt safe with him. You can't deny the fact but you know you felt safe with him. Then, you decided to go to your friend's house. Ahhhh ! Your friend ! I'm surprised how that chit of a girl is still alive after slapping Shivaay Singh Oberoi. She should thank all the Deities out there that she was your friend, or else..." Khanna left his sentence incomplete as he chuckled at Anika's reaction. She was shocked to know that Gauri actually slapped Shivaay. She would box her eyes for that. How could she slap her Shivaay ? At the same time she was offended that Khanna was underestimating her best friend.

"Don't frown like that. I admire that girl a lot, even Shivaay sir admire her for being so caring towards you. When you decided to go with her, Shivaay sir wanted to stop you but he didn't have the courage to do so. So he let you go." Khanna stopped and started sipping his coffee. Anika kept tapping her fingers on the table. Anybody could guess from her actions that she was impatient to know more. Love does things to you !

"Those days you were not infront of him were the most horrible days he spent. More than him those days were horrible for those around him. Servants, employees, me, his PA, his phone, laptop and God knows how many things that bore his wrath. His Dadi stopped talking to him, he stopped talking to his mother and to some extent, he cut himself off from everyone. But he never failed to call me to make sure your house was under scrutiny."

"He smiled after so many days when he got to know that you were going to work in his office. He was getting mad with happiness to have you around. He made that silly contract with the most silly clauses I had ever read, just to make sure you won't leave the job. He was glad that atleast you will be working at a secure place." Khanna looked at the time in his watch and found it was 12:04 am already.

"It's too late. I think you should go home. Let me drop you." As he was about to get up Anika stood up immidiately.

"No. I don't want to go. Now tell me what you were saying." Anika said and little too quickly, making it difficult for Khanna to stop his smile.

"Only if you promise to save me after Sir will be conscious. Okay ?" Khanna asked Anika and if you are thinking he was joking, he was not. He was damn serious.

"Okay so, let's go to the ward and sit there and I'll tell you everything." Khanna stood up and started walking towards Shivaay's ward. Anika was never so impatient as she was being now. She was cursing Khanna ji for changing so many places to talk about one thing. Now who could tell her that he wasn't telling her only one thing.

"So, where were we ?" Khanna was just trying to start up the conversation but Anika was too quick to remind him.

"Silly clauses." Anika spoke immidiately and he looked at her as if she was an alien. Told you, love does things to you !

"Yes. You remember when Mrs. Leena scolded you for bringing those pots in the canteen ? Sir was there when she was scolding you and trust me when I say he was getting red with anger. If not for me, he would've fired her that day. But On an honest note, that lady is irritating. Very irritating. Despite being married she has to..." Khanna's face radiated with pride as if he won a gold medal but soon it the turned to scowl at the mention of Mrs. Leena and he stopped speaking. Anika couldn't prevent herself from giggling silently.

"She isn't bad." Anika defended the strict but caring lady.

"I know I know !" Khanna mumbled in a bored tone and it was not meant to be heard by Anika but she did and left the argument for some another time.

"You remember the day you thought someone was following you ? Now you know you were being followed by our security men. But that time you were scared. I was informed by my men that you were scared and I informed Shivaay sir about the same. I don't know how he controlled himself from coming and asking you about it directly." Anika saw him sighing heavily and contemplated the reason. Had it something to do with Shivaay ?

"He asked me to try to know. And when he says try it means, do it (He chuckled ). So I.. don't scold me or get angry, but I heard as well as made him hear your conversation with Gauri through a phone call. I don't know what happened but when you were crying, the connection was cut. As much as I know him, he would've broken the phone." Khanna chuckled but it was not funny. He was just trying to lighten the mood.

It surely angered her but it was not significant. What bothered her was the blame she put on him the very next day. She recalled her venomous words said to him.

"Why don't you leave me alone ? Or the best, kill me ? Why don't you ?"

"You won't change."

She recovered from her thoughts when Khanna continued his monologue.

"Then ! You were kidnapped by that monster's men. Shivaay sir somehow rescued you. He would've killed us if he had not had to drop you to your house. He was so angry and scared that he decided to stay with you himself. From that point Shivinder Singh came to life. I don't know I should laugh or get shocked at his choice of.. attire ? Get up ? Whatever. But it was really difficult for me to stop myself from laughing." Anika looked at him with a small smile as he was recalling his own condition.

"And he would've scolded you and would've threatened you to stop laughing ?" Anika declared with a naughty, amusing smile but it seemed like she was asking him.

He was surprised at her correct estimation of his boss' reaction. Lovers know their beloved inside out !

"Yes. Coming back to the conversation we were having, I had never imagined that Shivaay sir would ever do anything stupid but, he did. I would never forget the way he made an excuse to work in the canteen. I even thought my boss was being a pervert." Khanna spoke with the flow but stopped as his eyes widened. He looked towards the door of his Shivaay sir's ward, looked right and then left and than looked at Anika who was looking at him with the same shocked expressions as his own.

"Please please please mam, pretend I didn't say this and you didn't hear it." Khanna pleaded but Anika kept looking at him with the same, shocked expressions. But then she nodded her head positively, giving Khanna his life back.

"On a serious note, all this is still okay but I'm yet to conclude the reason behind him shifting his work to the canteen. First I thought it was for your safety as usual but then I realised that could be easily done by me and other trusted men in our security team. The main reason actually was..." Khanna stopped as a smile graced his lips.

Anika was irritated at his abrupt stoppage. Why couldn't this man speak continuously, just like Gauri does. With that thought she made a mental note not to scold Gauri for speaking continously from now on.

The smile on his lips was not a smile actually, but a smirk, a teasing one to be precise. If Anika guessed what he might be thinking and that he was thinking the same as she was, she didn't let him know. What Shivaay had said to her that day was still fresh in her mind.

"You're my personal honey."

"He had actually shifted there to stop the special 'attention you were getting from his employees. I had never thought I would ever see him being that... unreasonable." Khanna chuckled and almost whispered the last word, lest someone heard it and complained about the same to his boss.

"How can I forget, that palace of Shivinder ! I swear when I say that I had thought he would not be able to live in that cardboard box like house even for a day. That house is literally smaller than his own room in Oberoi Mansion. Even my own house is bigger than that." The expression on Khanna's face was comical but what made Anika laugh were the memories of Shivaay's first day in her colony.

She recalled how he was struggling to get water and then, the epic scoldings of Raheem Chacha infront of whose cycle Shivaay came while trying to save himself from the notorious kids, those rides in the auto when he is so habituated to travel in his luxurious cars. Her laugh subsided as she realised Khanna's confused stare.

"Okay. So, you already know what all he actually 'suffered' while living as Shivinder Singh, but trust me, Mam, his intentions were good. He wanted to ensure your safety. Please atleast give him one chance to prove himself ?" Khanna looked like he would fall at her feet anytime to request her.

Anika didn't know what he meant by 'give him one chance' ? Or may be she was pretending to be oblivious to everything.

Gladly, Anika didn't have to think about it for now because the doctor and a nurse entering Shivaay's ward caught her and Khanna's attention. They stood up immidiately, waiting anxiously for the doctor to come out. Anika was more anxious by now because it was almost time for the effect of medicines to fade and Shivaay to gain his consciousness.

The doctor hadn't even stepped out of the ward that Anika shot her list of questions at him about whether Shivaay was conscious, whether he was fine, when he would be discharged or if he needed anything ? The doctor was a middle aged man who found the patient's 'wife' really cute and loving.

"He is fine, dear. He'll be fine in a day or two to be discharged. But it would take atleast fifteen days for his stitches to be removed. And don't worry, a person who has such a loving wife won't have a problem in recovering really soon." The doctor smiled and left from there, leaving a flushed faced Anika and Khanna, who all of a sudden had developed a sore throat.

Anika ignore him and stepped to go into the ward but Khanna's words stopped her in her tracks. She knew the answer but didn't want to answer so she stepped into the ward, with the question still ringing in her head.

"You still don't trust him ?"

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